Dumping apparatus



(No Model.) Sheets-Sheet 1.

R. 1). 0. JOHNSON. DUMPING APPARATUS.

No. 552,476. Patented Dec. 31', 1895.

AN DEM B.GRANAM,FNO'lO-UTNQWASIIINGTUNJ) C.

4 8heetsSheet 2. D. 0. JOHN-SON. DUMPING APPARATUS.

Patented Dec. 31

ANDREW 8.6RANAM.PHUTO-UTHQWASNINGYOKQO (No Model.) 4 Sheets-SheetB. R D.O. JOHNSON. DUMPING APPARATUS.

Patented Dec. 3 1, 1895.

ANDREW monummnmoumo.wAsrnNGmnm B.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4. R. D. O. JOHN$ON.

DUMPING APPARATUS. No. 552,476. Patented-Dec. 31, I895.

NITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

RENO D. O. JOHNSON, OF ISABELLA, MISSOURI.

DUMPING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 552,476, dated December31, 1895.

Application filed June 22, 1895. Serial No. 553,667. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, RENO D. O. JOHNSON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Isabella, in the county of Ozark and State of Missouri, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Dumping Apparatus, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to apparatus intended especially for use inmining-shafts for elevating and automatically dumping coal, ores, andother materials.

It has for its chief objects, first, to provide means by which thesubstance elevated may be automatically dumped from a car withoutstopping the cage or moving the car off the cage, and difficulties anddangers heretofore experienced from overturning avoided; second, toprovide means for momentarily substantially stopping the upward movementof the dumping-car during the operation of dumping without the use of acatch or stop fastened to the mining-shaft and without stopping the bodyof the cage; third, to provide means for automatically holding thedumping-car in position during the dumping and automatically disengagingit when at the foot of the shaft; fourth,to strengthen and improve thecar used, and, fifth, to provide improved means for automaticallyopening the end-gate of the dumping-car at the time for dumping thecontents of the car. I attain these objects by the mechanism illustratedin the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is an elevation of thedumping end of the cage. Fig. 2 is a side elevation. Fig. 3 is adetailed view of bumpers and landingblocks used at the bottom of theshaft. Fig. -l is in part a vertical transverse section of the cage onlines 4 4, Fig. l,'and 4 6, Fig. 5, and in part a side elevation of thedumpingcar in the position occupied when being elevated on the cage.Fig. 5 is a horizontal section on line 5 5, Fig. 6. Fig. 6 is a verticaltransverse view along the line at 6, Fig. 5, showing the cage and carresting on the landingblocks and bumpers and the car in position to bepushed off the cage. Fig. 7 is a side elevation showing the position ofthe parts in dumping. Fig. 8 is a detailed view of the inclined guideand the end of one of the tilting arms with its friction -rollers insaid guide.

Fig. 9 is a detailed view of an eye attached to the end-gate of thedumping-car, and Fig. 10 is in part a plan view of portions of myimprovement and in part a cross-section of a pair of tilting guides.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

A A, Figs. 3, 4, and 6, are spring-bumpers located at the bottom of theshaft. They are of ordinary construction.

B B B B, Figs. 3, 4, and 6, are landing blocks.

C, Figs. 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, and 7, is a dumpingcage, of which O is thebottom, C the top, and C C and C (J posts connecting the top and bottomof the cage. 0 O Fig. 5, are vertical guides attached to the sides ofthe shaft which guide the cage. The parts 0 (J run on opposite sides ofone of said guides, and the posts 0 C on opposite sides of the other.

The bottom of the cage may be of ordinary construction, but is shownconstructed as follows: 0 c are the side pieces, shown riveted to thepost 0 O and C C. At their rear ends they are shown connected by theangleiron 0, and are connected together cent-rally by the T-iron c andangle-braces 0 0 D, Figs. 1, 2, 4., 5, 6 and 7, is a tilting platformupon which the dumping-car is carried. It is preferably constructed inthe manner shown in the drawings. In the construction shown D D D areU-shaped ribs.

D D are side pieces attached to the outer side of the ribs.

D D &c., are beams resting on the ribs D.

D D are top pieces, having space enough between them to permit a car todescend therein. They are preferably provided with openings at d cl clcl, in order to permit the carwheels to pass down. Except at theopenings (Z d, &c., sections of iron beading or rails d d, &c., areattached to the inner edges of the top pieces D and at their inner edgesthey are supported by a lining (i preferably U- shaped in cross-section,except where cut away in the manner hereinafter described. The bottom ofthe lining D of the platform D rests upon the beams D It is cut awayfrom top to bottom at (Z and d 011 both sides, leaving upright sidepieces (Z d (1 (Z and (1% standing on each side. The edges of the pieces(1"(1 and (Z (l are shown cut awayin the shape of a segment of a circleat d (1 Vithin the tilting platform a frame E is movable vertically. Itis shown composed of two longitudinal side bars 6 c, a central bar e,cross-bars e e and c" attached to the bars c e: and c, and four sectionsof rails e e c 6 resting on and attached to the cross-bars e and 6 6-These sections of rails c e e e are preferably curved down toward themiddle from each end, as shown. The only function of the centrallongitudinal bar 6 is to strengthen the construction, and as will beobvious it may be omitted. The side bars 6 e, by coming in contact withthe inner sides of the U shaped part D prevent lateral motion on thepart of the frame. Longitudinal motion is prevented by guides (Z (Z (l(1 attached to the sides of the platform D, and passing down between thecross-bars c c and c 0, as shown in Figs. 2, 5 and 7.

The sections of rails e c and c e are the right length to substantiallyfill up the gaps left between the pieces (1 (1' when in their highestposition, and when in that position co-operate with the pieces (1 (Z informing a track across the platform D.

The forward part of the platform I) is preferably linked to the bottom 0of the cage by means of two arms F F, whose upper ends are preferablyjournaled at ff in opposite sides of the platform D, and whose lowerends are preferably keyed to the bent shaft F, whose ends are preferablyjournaled in bearings f f, attached to the sides 0 c of the bottom ofthe cage, at points which are preferably somewhat farther forward thanthose positions 0c cupied by the journal-bearings at ff when theplatform is in a horizontal position. The obj eet in having the shaft Fbent is to permit the tilting-platform D to drop down lower than itcouldif the shaft were straight and the other parts proportioned, as shown.As will be obvious, the method of pivoting the lower ends of the arms ff to the bottom of the cage is only one of many equivalent methods whichmight be adopted. It is preferred on account of the strength contributedto the construction by the shaft f.

The rear end of the platform D preferably rests when in a horizontalposition on the cross-bar c of the bottom C of the cage. It is linked tothe top C of the cage, preferably by two hangers G G, whose lower endsare preferably keyed to the ends of a horizontal shaft G, passingthrough the rear end of the platform D and j ournaled" in bearings g g,attached thereto or formed therein. The upper ends of the hangers G Gare preferably keyed to the ends of a shaft G which passes through therear end of the top C of the cage, and is preferably journaled inbearings in or attached to its sides 0 c. As will be obvious, thisparticular method of pivotally connecting the lower ends of the hangersG G with the platform D at one end and the top of the cage at the otheris only one of many which will occur to a skilled mechanic reading thisspecification. Tilting arms II II are also directly or indirectlypivotally connected to the rear of the platform D, one on each side,)referably by pivotally connecting one to each of the hangers near itslower end, as shown. \Vhatever the means of connection it should not bea rigid connection, but should be such as will permit the front end ofthe platform when tilted to descend below the level of the outer ends ofthe tilting arms, substantially as it does in the constructionrepresented in the drawings. No special means of connection isessential. The one represented is one of many capable of accomplishingthe same purpose, which will occur to any mechanic reading thisspecification, and I do not wish my claims to be understood as confiningme to the particular means represented. The arms II II project forward,and at its extreme outer end each arm preferably carries a pair offriction-rollers h It, pivotally connected thereto. The outer end ofeach of the arms II is preferably upheld by a hanger I, whose lower endis pivotally connected thereto, and whose upper end preferably forkedand keyed to a transverse shaft I, which turns in bearings formed in orattached to the sides 0" c" of the top 0 of the cage. The object inforking the upper ends of these hangers I is to prevent lateral motionon the part of the arms II.

Other methods of pivotally connecting the upper ends of the hangers Iwith the top of the cage may be adopted, but the one described ispreferred.

K is a dumping-car of ordinary construction, except in the particularshereinafter described. At its forward end its sides 7;. 7t slant upwardfrom a point 7;, preferably a short distance above the bottom of thecar, to a point some distance back of the forward end and preferablyabout the middle of the side of the car at or near the top. The endgateK of the dumping end of the car is preferably composed of an end pieceand two wings k k, whose tops are preferably about horizontal, and whichpreferably slant upward along their bottom edges at about the same angleas the sides of the car, and are pivotally connected at or near theirouter ends to the car-body, the pivotal connection being lettered 7c.The precise forms of the car end and end-gate shown are not essential,as will be obvious, though desirable. The sides of the car beingduplicates only one side is shown.

An eye L, having a U-shaped top Z, is preferably attached to theend-gate.

M is a rod journaled at its upper end in the shaft I and having itslower end formed into or attached to a double hook on, having its pron sturned inward. This rod M normally rests, when the cage is loaded, onthe U shaped top Z of the eye L. The rod is preferablylong enough toprevent its hook engaging the eye ITO L, except when the car is tilted.When the car is tilted forward in the manner hereinafter described thehook m engages the eye L and stops the downward movement of the end-gateof the car, and if the downward movement of that end of the carcontinues far enough the dumping end of the car is opened and itscontents allowed to slide out. The special form of end-gate abovedescribed has been found in practice to be much more durable than anyother with which I am acquainted. The described device for opening theend is free from the defects incident to all devices in which theend-gate is forced open by a stationary part, or a part attached to theshaft instead of the cage.

The car K preferably runs upon wheels R of ordinary construction.

N, Fig. 7, is one of a pair of guides located 011 one side of the shaft,at the point where the dumping is to be done. The guides-beingduplicates, only one is shown. One guide N is located in position toengage the frictionrollers 72. h of one tilting arm H and the other therollers h h of the other tilting arm. The guides N each preferably havea lower section N, which inclines upward and outward,

and an upper section N which begins where the outward inclination stopsand is preferably substantially vertical. The outward inclination of theinclined section N is preferably, but not necessarily, continuousthroughout its length. The section N is preferably substantiallyvertical; but a departure from the vertical, though undesirable, is notentirely impracticable, so long as the tilting platform is not pushedtoo far back on the one hand or pulled too far out on the other.

The guide N is preferably arranged so as to govern the position of thetilting platform until its lower end is passed after the dumping andwhen the cage descends; but this is not absolutely necessary, asit isnot essential that the platform D should be kept tilted after thedumping is completed. The essential portion of the guide is the partinclining upward and outward. \Vhere the tilting platform cannot tiltbeyond the desired point, and when in its tilted position remains inthat position rise above it, so as to prevent the stoppage of the cageat the dumping-point.

The lower end of the guide N is preferably substantially openthat is, itallows the end of a tilting arm or a part thereto attached to pass intoit. It is preferably but not necessarily provided with a lip it forguiding the part engaged by the guide up into the mouth of the guide.

WVhere the arms H each carry a pair of friction-rollers, as shown, theguides N each contains in the section N a slot 01- to permit the outerend of one of said arms to pass upward while its rollers h h areengaged. On each side of this slot pieces a n whose guiding or bearingfaces face substantially outward, are arranged to engage the rollers h has the cage passes upward and hold said rollers in position. The back ofthe guide N is preferably provided with a part or parts a for therollers to roll on when the cage descends, and which forces the tiltingplatform back into its normal position. The bottom of each guide N ispreferably provided with a lip n for forcing the rollers h h to enterthe guide. This lip is not an essential feature, though desirable. Inthe preferable form of my improvement the construction of section N ofthe guide may be substantially the same as section N; but the parts n nare not essential, and where .the guide is not used on the descent ofthecage the part a in section N may be omitted, though desirable. Section Nof the guide N preferably extends as high as the arms H can be carriedby the hoisting machinery.

My improvement operates as follows: The cage being at the bottom of theshaft, as shown in Fig. 6, rests upon the spring-bumpers A A, except itsmovable frame E, which rests upon the landing-blocks B B B B, whose topsare in contact with the under sides of the cross-bars e e and 6 6 Theseblocks pass up through the bottom of the cage on the outside of thelining D and extend up far enough to lift the rail-sections e and e tosubstantially the same level as the pieces d. A continuous track acrossthe platform D being thus formed, an unloaded car resting on thesections of rails c e and e a as shown, may be pushed off and a loadedcar pushed onto the cage in its place. The new car tends to come to reston the sections 6 e and e e of the track by reason of their form. Thecage being loaded is started upward. As it rises the movable frame E,upon which the loaded car rests, sinks until the landing-blocks B B,&c., cease to support it and it comes to rest upon the part D of theplatform D. The car continues in its original position on thetrack-sections e e and e 6 until the guides N N are reached. WVhen saidguides are reached the outer end of each tilting arm I'l enters the slot71 in the guide N on its side, and its rollers h h come in contact withthe inner faces of the parts a n on each side of said slot. As the guideslants outward and the rollers h 71. cannot escape therefrom, the arms HH pull the rear end of the tilting platform D, to which they areconnected, forward. As the arms F F,upon which the weight of the forwardpart of the platform D rests, are preferably so connected to the bottomof the .cage as to incline inward from bottom to top through the arms IIII is to lift the cage until the arms F pass the vertical and begin todescend. From that time on, until the forward end of the platform Dreaches its lowest position, the lower end of the car descends, and asthe descent is preferably as rapid as the ascent of the cage the lowerend of the platform is thus momentarily kept from rising, though theupward motion of the body of the cage continues, or may do so. As soonas the center of gravity of the combined car and tilting platform passesover and beyond the bearings f f the rollers attached to the tiltingarms are thrust against the parts a of the guides N, which cause thedescent of the outer end of the tilting platform to be gradual. As soonas the platform D begins to tilt forward the car K moves forward, andits wheels enter the recesses (7 as shown in Fig. 7, and rest thereinuntil the platform resumes its horizontal position, when they roll backonto the sections 6 e" and c e of the track.

enough forward, the eye Ii attached to its endgate K is engaged by thehook m, attached to the rod M, and thus prevented from moving fartherdownward, and as the downward movement of that end of the body of thecar continues it drops away from the endgate, and the contents, beingleft free to es cape, are dumped. \Vhen the guide is constructed in thepreferred manner the ear is kept in the dumping position until the cagestops. The descent of the cage causes the arms II II to push theplatform back into its original position.

The rollers 7b of the arms II II preferably rest against the parts a ofthe guides during the descent of the cage until the common center ofgravity of the tilting platform and car passes back of the bearings f f,when they again bear upon the parts a M, which prevent the platformfrom falling back suddenly into its original position.

\Vhen the cage returns to the bottom of the pit with its empty car, thebottom of the cage strikes the bumpers A A and the ends of the crossbarsc e and e e of the frame E strike the tops of the landing-blocks B 1-3,(to. The bumpers allow the car to descend to the position shown in Fig.6, and the landing-bloeks, by preventing the frame E from descendingafter striking them, cause the frame E and the car resting thereon toassume the position with reference to the platform D in which they arerepresented in Fig. (5. During this change of position the frame E iskept from moving horizontally by the bars a e, the side pieces (1" d", d(F, and (Z d, and the vertical guides (1 \Vhere I speak of parts beingpivotally connected, I desire to be understood as including connectionsin which the pivot turns in a bearing as well as those in which thepivot is the bearing upon which another part turns.

\Vhere I speak of the position of a connection being back of or in frontof a center of As soon as the front end of the car K has tilted fagravity, I do not wish to be understood as meaning directly back of it,but simply that whether to one side or not of the center of gravity inquestion it is either farther back or farther forward, as the case maybe, from the center of gravity of the part when such part is in itsnormal position.

I claim 1. In a dumping cage a tilting platform; means linking saidplatform, back of its center of gravity, to the top part of said cage;and one or more arms linking said platform, in front of its center ofgravity, to the bottom part of said cage; substantially as described.

2. In a dumping cage a tilting platform; means linking said platform,back of its center of gravity, to the top part ofsaid cage; and one ormore arms pivotally connected to said platform, in front of its centerof gravity, and pivotally connected to the bottom part of said cagefarther forward than to said platform; substantially as described.

In a dumping cage a tilting platform; means linkingsaid platform, backof its center of gravity, to the top part of said cage; one or more armspivotally connected to said platform in front of its center of gravity,and pivotallyconnected to the bottom part of said cage farther forwardthan to said platform; and a rest for the rear part of said platform;substantially as described.

at. In a dumping cage a tilting platform; means linking said platform,back of its center of gravity, to the top part of said cage; one or morearms linking said platform, in front of its center of gravity, to thebottom part of said cage; one or more tilting arms, connected to saidplatform back of its center of gravity, and extending forward and meanssupporting the outer ends of said tilting arms; substantially asdescribed.

5. In a dumping cage a tilting platform; means linking said platform,back of its center of gravity, to the top part of said cage; one or morearms linking said platform, in. front of its center of gravity, to thebottom part of said cage; one or more tilting arms, connected to saidplatform back of its center of gravity, and extending forward; and meanslinking said tilting arm or arms to the top part of said cage, andkeeping them substantially horizontal when said platform is tilted;substantially as described.

6. In a dumping cage a tilting platform; means linking said platform,back of its center of gravity, to the top part of said cage; one or morearms pivotallyconnected to said platform in front of its center ofgravity, and pivotally connected to the bottom part of said cage fartherforward than to said platform; one or more tilting arms connected tosaid platform back of its center of gravity, and extending forward andmeans supporting the the outer ends of said tilting arms; substantiallyas described.

7. In a dumping cage, a tilting platform; means linking said platformback of its conter of gravity, to the top part of said cage; one or morearms pivotally connected to said platform, in front of its center ofgravity, and pivotally connected to the bottom part of said cage fartherforward than to said platform; one or more tilting arms, connected tosaid platform, and means linking said tilting arm or arms to the toppart of said cage and supporting their outer ends, substantially asdescribed.

8. In a dumping cage a tilting platform; means linking said platform,back of its center of gravity, to the top part of said cage; one or morearms pivotally connected to said platform in front of its center ofgravity, and pivotally connected to the bottom part of said cage fartherforward than to said platform; a rest for the rear part of saidplatform; and one or more tilting arms connected to said platform backof its center of gravity, and extending thence forward; substantially asdescribed.

9. In a dumping cage a tilting platform; means linking said platform,back of its center of gravity, to the top part of said cage; one or morearms pivotally connected to said platform in front of its center ofgravity, and pivotally connected to the bottom part of said cage fartherforward than to said platform; a rest for the rear part of saidplatform; one or more tilting arms connected to said platform back ofits center of gravity; and means linking said tilting arm or arms to thetop part of said cage, and supporting their outer ends when saidplatform is tilted; substantially as described.

10. In a dumping cage a tilting platform; means connecting said platformto said cage; one or more tilting arms connected to said platform; andmeans linking said tilting arms to the top part of said cage, andsupporting their outer ends when said platform is tilted; substantiallyas described.

11. In a shaft, substantially vertical cage guides, extendingsubstantially from top to bottom of that portion of the shaft in whichthe cage runs; one or more tilting guides, each having a lower sectionopen at the bottom, and inclining upward and outward, and each having anupper substantially vertical section opening into the lower section, andthe lower end of each lower section being located near the dumpingpoint; a cage running in said cage guides, having a tilting platform;means linking said platform, back of its center of gravity, to the toppart of said cage; one or more arms linking said platform, in front ofits center of gravity, to the bottom part of said cage; and one or moretilting arms connected to said platform back of its center of gravity,and extending forward, and engaging said tilting guide or guides;substantially as described.

each having a lower section open at the bottom, and inclining upward andoutward, and each having an upper substantially vertical section openinginto the lower section, and the lower end of each lower section beinglocated near the dumping point; a cage running in said guides; a tiltingplatform in said cage; means linking said platform, back of its centerof gravity, to the top part of said cage; one ormore arms connected tosaid platform, in front of its center of gravity, and pivotallyconnected to the bottom part of said cage farther forward than to saidplatform; and one or more tilting arms pivotally connected to saidplatform back of its center of gravity, and extending forward, andengaging said tilting guide or guides; substantially as described.

13. In a shaft substantially vertical cage guides extendingsubstantially from top to bottom of that portion of the shaft in whichthe cage runs; one or more tilting guides; a cage running in said cageguides; a tilting platform in said cage; means linking said platform,back of its center of gravity, to the top part of said cage; one or morearms pivotally connected to said platform in front of its center ofgravity, and pivotally connected to the bottom part of said cage fartherforward than to said platform; and one or more tilting arms connected tosaid platform, and extending forward and en gaging said tilting guides;substantially as described.

14. In a shaft substantially vertical cage guides extendingsubstantially from top to bottom of that portion of the shaft in whichthe cage runs; one or more tilting guides, each having a lower sectionopen at the bottom, and inclining upward and outward, and

the lower end of each, being located near the dumping point; a cagerunning in said cage guides, having a tilting platform; means linkingsaid platform,back of its center of gravity, to the top part of saidcage, one or more arms pivotally connected to said platform in front ofits center of gravity, and pivotally connected to the bottom part ofsaid cage farther forward than to said platform, and one or more tiltingarms connected to said platform back of its center of gravity, andextending forward and each engaging one of said tilting guides, and eachhaving its outer end supported by means linking it to the top part ofsaid cage; substantially as described.

- 15. In a shaft substantially vertical cage guides extendingsubstantially from top to bottom of that portion of the shaft in whichthe cage runs; one or more tilting guides; a cage running in said cageguides, having a tilting platform, means linking said platform back ofits center of gravity to the top part of said cage; a rest for the rearpart of said platform; one or more arms pivotally connected to saidplatform in front of its center of gravity, and pivotally connected tothe bottom part of said cage farther forward than to said platform; andone or more tilting arms connected to said platform back of its centerof gravity, and extending forward and each engaging one of said tiltingguides, and each having its outer end supported by means linking it tothe top part of said cage; substantially as described.

16. The combination in a dumping cage of a tilting platform, meanslinking said platform, back of its center of gravity, to the top part ofsaid cage, means linking said platform in front of its center ofgravity, to the bottom part of said cage; a pair of tilting armspivotally connected to said platform; means linking said tilting arms tothe top part of said cage; a pair of vertical guides, guiding said cage;and another pair of guides located at about the dumping point, eachhaving a part inclining outward and upward, and each engaging one ofsaid tilting arms, and each having at the upper end of its inclinedportion, a passage permitting a continued ascent of said tilting arms;substantially as described.

17. The combination in a dumping cage of a tilting platform having oneach side three side pieces, each of the two foremost, on each side,having its rear edge recessed; six sections of rails attached to the topof said platform; a frame vertically movable within said platform; andsections of rails carried by said frame, and, together with said otherrail sections completing a track across said plat form, when said frameis in its highest position, and being below said other rail sectionswhen said frame is in its lowest position; substantially as described.

18. The combination in a cage of a tilting platform; hangers G G,linking said platform to the top of said cage; arms 1 l1,whose upperends are pivotally connected to said platform, in front of its center ofgravity and whose lower ends are keyed to a bent transverse shaft,journaled in bearings attached to or formed in the sides of the bottomof the cage.

\Vitncss my hand this 20th day of June, 1895.

RENO l). O. JOHNSON.

Witnesses:

G. D. FISHER, \V. II. BOEHMER.

